Effects of the diterpene sclareol glycol on body temperature in rats.

The effects of the diterpene sclareol glycol (SG) of the labdane family on rectal body temperature in rats were studied. Sclareol glycol induced dose-dependent changes in temperature. At the lowest dose (5 mg/kg) SG produced a decrease followed by an increase in temperature; at the middle dose it produced a decrease and at the largest dose, an increase in rectal temperature. Sclareol glycol caused changes in apomorphine-induced hypothermia (at the low and middle doses it reversed hypothermia, and at the high dose hypothermia was enhanced). Sclareol glycol produced a dose-dependent reversal of reserpine-induced hypothermia. These results suggest that the diterpene sclareol glycol induces changes in core body temperature by interacting with dopamine (DA) receptors and with the second messenger system of 3',5'-AMP in the brain thermoregulatory areas.